Local News - Page 5

catsmate · 3rd June 2023, 04:05 AM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

"Jedi" as a religion is absolute nonsense. The Sith have a much more practical philosophy. Peace is a lie, there is only passion! Tell me that isn't both a kickass theological tenet and the tagline for a sultry primetime soap opera!

Well you have four and a half years to recruit....

arthwollipot · 4th June 2023, 10:55 PM

Originally Posted by catsmate

No.
Not in Ireland anyway, and not in the UK either I believe, they are counted as a separate religion just like any other group with thirty or more adherents. State agencies have no role in determining what is a "real" religion.

Have you checked the actual processing guidelines? I worked on the Australian Census in 2016 and that was the rule - anything that wasn't on a specific list was to be recorded as "none".

Orphia Nay · 4th June 2023, 11:55 PM

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

Have you checked the actual processing guidelines? I worked on the Australian Census in 2016 and that was the rule - anything that wasn't on a specific list was to be recorded as "none".

Ireland
In a May 2012 review of the 2011 census, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee asked the Central Statistics Office about the reliability of self-reported answers, instancing people listing Jedi as their religion. The response was "We could probably tell you the number of people who have declared themselves as such, but we don't publish it". The 2016 census results list all religions receiving more than 30 responses, including 2,050 (0.085%) under "Jedi Knight". As of the 2022 census, there are 1,800 Jedi knights, a decrease of 250 since the 2016 census results.[28]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_census_phenomenon

catsmate · 5th June 2023, 03:47 AM

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

Have you checked the actual processing guidelines? I worked on the Australian Census in 2016 and that was the rule - anything that wasn't on a specific list was to be recorded as "none".

Yes. Australia is not Ireland.

arthwollipot · 5th June 2023, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by catsmate

Yes. Australia is not Ireland.

I never said it was.

Darat · 6th June 2023, 05:48 AM

Originally Posted by catsmate

No.
Not in Ireland anyway, and not in the UK either I believe, they are counted as a separate religion just like any other group with thirty or more adherents. State agencies have no role in determining what is a "real" religion.

Sort of...

https://www.arabianbusiness.com/cult...uk-2021-census

...The latest results show that England and Wales’s Jedi order fell from 176,000 a decade ago to below 1,600, leading to “Jedi Knight” being aggregated into a “No religion” category....

(Strange source for the story - the actual Bloomberg report is behind a paywall.)

Gulliver Foyle · 7th June 2023, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by catsmate

Census data has been released, https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2...n-latest-data/

Catholicism is down, especially in Dublin, Islam, Orthodox and Hinduism are up. Nearly as many Sikhs as Jews, more Satanists than Scientologists, Quakers and Hare Krishnas. But more Jedi Knights than the last four combined.
'No Religion' is up 67%.

Given the 700,000 that explicitly state no religion and the further 300,000 plus that didn't answer the question, the irreligious over here are likely north of 20% just on census numbers alone.

And the numbers for catholics is probably an overestimate, given that it's significantly higher than consistent polling data. But that can be attributed to factors such as parents marking their adult children as catholic and the number of people who will mark themselves catholic since they were baptised, even though they openly don't believe

TragicMonkey · 7th June 2023, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by catsmate

Yes. Australia is not Ireland.

I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland.

Ziggurat · 7th June 2023, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland.

It's not the accent you need to worry about. It's the fact that they'd be drunken criminals.

Oh, wait, they're both already like that.

arthwollipot · 7th June 2023, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland.

Interestingly, the Australian accent developed largely due to the mixing of Irish, Scottish and Welsh, since they were among the prominent demographics of Europeans to arrive here.

catsmate · 8th June 2023, 05:47 AM

Originally Posted by Gulliver Foyle

Given the 700,000 that explicitly state no religion and the further 300,000 plus that didn't answer the question, the irreligious over here are likely north of 20% just on census numbers alone.

And the numbers for catholics is probably an overestimate, given that it's significantly higher than consistent polling data. But that can be attributed to factors such as parents marking their adult children as catholic and the number of people who will mark themselves catholic since they were baptised, even though they openly don't believe

True.
On a related note a colleague of mine is hoping to have the Sith recognised in '27.

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland.

Plenty of examples out there......

Gulliver Foyle · 9th June 2023, 05:21 AM

In local news former dual GAA Cork star Teddy McCarthy, the only man to win football and hurling All-Irelands in the one year died earlier in the week. I knew the funeral would be big, but I didn't realise it would be absolutely massive until I sat talking with two Inspectors this morning.

arthwollipot · 19th July 2023, 12:47 AM

Not that local, but this was a hell of a crash:

Multiple people in hospital after Queensland crash involving truck carrying US Abrams tank

Quote:

Emergency crews arrive to find three vehicles on fire and four others badly damaged on Bruce Highway near Rockhampton

Six people are in hospital after a fiery multi-vehicle crash involving a truck that was carrying an army tank in central Queensland.

Police set up a large exclusion zone after the collision on the Bruce Highway near Rockhampton on Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews arrived to find three vehicles on fire and four others badly damaged, police said.

The vehicles included a B-double truck, a semi-trailer carrying a military tank, a flatbed truck carrying two caravans, three cars, and a 4WD towing a caravan.

arthwollipot · 19th July 2023, 06:05 PM

Followup:

Bruce Highway partially reopens after multi-vehicle crash involving US tank

Quote:

One lane has reopened on the Bruce Highway this morning as investigators piece together the chain of events that led to a fiery multi-vehicle crash involving a US military tank in central Queensland.

The seven-vehicle crash happened near Bajool, south of Rockhampton, yesterday morning.

It involved multiple caravans, a B-double truck and a semi-trailer carrying a US army tank en route to a military exercise.

Three of the vehicles were on fire when police arrived.

Six people were taken to hospital.

Two remain in stable conditions and others have been discharged.

...

Inspector Carroll said police were still piecing together the cause of the crash but initial investigations suggest a passenger vehicle failed to stop for an escort vehicle accompanying the semi-trailer carrying the tank, causing a domino effect.

The tank was being transported from Gladstone port to the Shoalwater Bay training area for Exercise Talisman Sabre, a biennial training event involving Australian and US troops.

"That's our initial understanding … our crash investigators are still piecing it together," Inspector Carroll said.

"We were absolutely flabbergasted that no-one was killed out of that crash.

"[That] was the most pleasing thing, because it was an absolute mess."

Gord_in_Toronto · 19th July 2023, 06:41 PM

This I could have posted in a number of sub-fora but seems to fit nicely here:

Investor who lost $740K to Ontario's Crypto King among 5 men charged with kidnapping him

Quote:

A Toronto investor who lost thousands to Ontario's self-proclaimed Crypto King is one of five men facing charges connected to the alleged kidnapping, forcible confinement and assault of Aiden Pleterski last December, CBC Toronto has learned.

CBC Toronto previously reported details of Pleterski's alleged kidnapping based on a report from ongoing bankruptcy proceedings against the 24-year-old. In the bankruptcy, investors have been working for nearly a year to try and track down more than $40 million given to Pleterski to invest in crypto currency and foreign exchange.

Akil Heywood has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping Pleterski and for threatening the administrator overseeing the bankruptcy in an attempt to get $2 million in crypto currency, according to court records.

If I had invested in crypto and lost big, I would want my money back, too. But I did not and prefer to let the police and courts do their work rather than engage in vigilantism.

bruto · 19th July 2023, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto

This I could have posted in a number of sub-fora but seems to fit nicely here:

Investor who lost $740K to Ontario's Crypto King among 5 men charged with kidnapping him

If I had invested in crypto and lost big, I would want my money back, too. But I did not and prefer to let the police and courts do their work rather than engage in vigilantism.

Do I read that right, and after all that the kidnapper wanted his two million in cryptocurrency? Slow learner!

Andy_Ross · 19th July 2023, 11:41 PM

Hartlepool mum's mobile phone fury after being 'left with no service for SIX days' on O2 network

Quote:

A Hartlepool resident says she has endured six days of no mobile phone service after issues with the O2 network.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was told the issue was down to a nearby phone mast that wasn't working, leaving her to rely solely on Wi-Fi networks. She blasted the situation as an "absolute joke"

Quote:

"I rang up to complain and asked for a refund because why should I be paying for this service that I am not receiving? I wonder if anyone else is receiving this issue. They have knocked £6 off my next bill, it is the least they could do."

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/t...paign=sharebar

wobs · 20th July 2023, 02:31 AM

Too many ~~Poles~~ poles in Hull:
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news...y-hull-8614325

Gord_in_Toronto · 20th July 2023, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by bruto

Do I read that right, and after all that the kidnapper wanted his two million in cryptocurrency? Slow learner!

I'm not sure he learned that. But he may learn a few other things.

catsmate · 20th July 2023, 08:26 AM

Our resident transphobic evangelical bigot has lost in court again, faces massive costs bill.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/c...-41185621.html

PitPat · 20th July 2023, 08:35 AM

Tonight at 11, How Can Breathing Kill You?

Gord_in_Toronto · 20th July 2023, 10:38 AM

As a law abiding citizen, I approve this message!

Organized crime not welcome in city: Mayor

(Just don't send them to my town.)

Andy_Ross · 20th July 2023, 12:48 PM

Newton Aycliffe's Westmorland Way ‘worst for potholes'

Quote:

A County Durham street that was branded the worst in the North East for potholes will be getting a new lease of life later this year.
Pictures from the roads that were taken by The Northern Echo show huge dips in the road with patches of tarmac covering some of the bigger potholes.
However, Durham County Council has now said that the road will be getting fixing in this financial year.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...orst-potholes/

Orphia Nay · 20th July 2023, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by Andy_Ross

Newton Aycliffe's Westmorland Way ‘worst for potholes'

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...orst-potholes/

Our local community groups are awash with people complaining about potholes.

It occured to me that roads pretty much decay at the same rate wherever you go.

I'd like to know if people complain everywhere else, not just here and in the NE UK.

bruto · 20th July 2023, 05:03 PM

Today's paper had a picture of Pete Buttigieg visiting a site of extreme flood damage. Going to a concert up that way we had booked a night at this hotel for next week. I think plans have changed....

hotel.png

TragicMonkey · 20th July 2023, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

Our local community groups are awash with people complaining about potholes.

It occured to me that roads pretty much decay at the same rate wherever you go.

I don't think they do-- it depends on the exact material the road is constructed from, the climate conditions, and the volume and nature of the traffic. I live in a city that is notoriously cheap with infrastructure so the major roads that get lots of traffic --particularly big trucks-- are in terrible shape. Cold winters and hot summers don't help. Then when repairs are made, they're done with the cheapest possible materials...which don't last very long at all. We're spending far more on repeated repairs than it would cost to do it right the first time. I think this is a real-world example of Sam Vimes's "Boots Theory of Economics": we spend more on road repairs than a richer city would but we still have crappy streets!

arthwollipot · 20th July 2023, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

Our local community groups are awash with people complaining about potholes.

It occured to me that roads pretty much decay at the same rate wherever you go.

I'd like to know if people complain everywhere else, not just here and in the NE UK.

After three years of La Niña rain, we had potholes out the wazoo. It was a running joke on the local Facebook community group.

Orphia Nay · 20th July 2023, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

I don't think they do-- it depends on the exact material the road is constructed from, the climate conditions, and the volume and nature of the traffic. I live in a city that is notoriously cheap with infrastructure so the major roads that get lots of traffic --particularly big trucks-- are in terrible shape. Cold winters and hot summers don't help. Then when repairs are made, they're done with the cheapest possible materials...which don't last very long at all. We're spending far more on repeated repairs than it would cost to do it right the first time. I think this is a real-world example of Sam Vimes's "Boots Theory of Economics": we spend more on road repairs than a richer city would but we still have crappy streets!

Sure. But do locals complain about it?

TragicMonkey · 20th July 2023, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

Sure. But do locals complain about it?

Yeah, but it gets a bit overshadowed by all the shootings.

Orphia Nay · 20th July 2023, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

Yeah, but it gets a bit overshadowed by all the shootings.

Holy ****.

TragicMonkey · 20th July 2023, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

Holy ****.

Well, it's a city. These are mostly carjackings and robberies, not splashy mass shootings that make headlines all over.

Orphia Nay · 20th July 2023, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

Well, it's a city. These are mostly carjackings and robberies, not splashy mass shootings that make headlines all over.

Still scary.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, a lion has been sighted on the loose.

arthwollipot · 20th July 2023, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

Still scary.

Meanwhile, in Berlin, a lion has been sighted on the loose.

And in California, a tricksy otter has been stealing surfboards.

TragicMonkey · 20th July 2023, 08:17 PM

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

And in California, a tricksy otter has been stealing surfboards.

And a national park has reported thefts of pic-a-nic baskets! The culprit is thought to be either a bear, or a vampire. Fifty tons of garlic and crucifixes are being rushed to the site.

novaphile · 20th July 2023, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by TragicMonkey

And a national park has reported thefts of pic-a-nic baskets! The culprit is thought to be either a bear, or a vampire. Fifty tons of garlic and crucifixes are being rushed to the site.

Understandable. I've heard the stories of those pic-a-nic basket thefts, and clearly whotever is doing them, is smarter than the average bear.

Blue Bubble · 21st July 2023, 01:22 AM

Originally Posted by Orphia Nay

...

I'd like to know if people complain everywhere else, not just here and in the NE UK.

Nitpick: Newton Aycliffe is in County Durham, which is part of the north east of England, some considerable distance from the north east of the UK. Please don't fall into that habit of thinking England is synonymous with the United Kingdom.

catsmate · 21st July 2023, 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by arthwollipot

And in California, a tricksy otter has been stealing surfboards.

Berlin has a rambling lioness....

The worst we've had here is some unusual birds. And the wallabies of course.

Gord_in_Toronto · 21st July 2023, 05:43 AM

Originally Posted by novaphile

Understandable. I've heard the stories of those pic-a-nic basket thefts, and clearly whotever is doing them, is smarter than the average bear.

Documentary here:

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

jeremyp · 21st July 2023, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by catsmate

Berlin has a rambling lioness....

Or maybe just a pig

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66268558

TragicMonkey · 21st July 2023, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by jeremyp

Or maybe just a pig

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66268558

Pigs, lions, they're all so similar.

Which may be why everyone was so odd at Easter when I brought the ham.

3rd June 2023, 04:05 AM	#161
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,319	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey "Jedi" as a religion is absolute nonsense. The Sith have a much more practical philosophy. Peace is a lie, there is only passion! Tell me that isn't both a kickass theological tenet and the tagline for a sultry primetime soap opera! Well you have four and a half years to recruit....
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.

4th June 2023, 10:55 PM	#162
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Originally Posted by catsmate No. Not in Ireland anyway, and not in the UK either I believe, they are counted as a separate religion just like any other group with thirty or more adherents. State agencies have no role in determining what is a "real" religion. Have you checked the actual processing guidelines? I worked on the Australian Census in 2016 and that was the rule - anything that wasn't on a specific list was to be recorded as "none".
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

5th June 2023, 03:47 AM	#164
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,319	Originally Posted by arthwollipot Have you checked the actual processing guidelines? I worked on the Australian Census in 2016 and that was the rule - anything that wasn't on a specific list was to be recorded as "none". Yes. Australia is not Ireland.
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.

5th June 2023, 09:24 PM	#165
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Originally Posted by catsmate Yes. Australia is not Ireland. I never said it was.
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

6th June 2023, 05:48 AM	#166
Darat Lackey Administrator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: South East, UK Posts: 111,118	Originally Posted by catsmate No. Not in Ireland anyway, and not in the UK either I believe, they are counted as a separate religion just like any other group with thirty or more adherents. State agencies have no role in determining what is a "real" religion. Sort of... https://www.arabianbusiness.com/cult...uk-2021-census ...The latest results show that England and Wales’s Jedi order fell from 176,000 a decade ago to below 1,600, leading to “Jedi Knight” being aggregated into a “No religion” category.... (Strange source for the story - the actual Bloomberg report is behind a paywall.)
	__________________ I wish I knew how to quit you

4th June 2023, 11:55 PM	#163
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 43,206	Originally Posted by arthwollipot Have you checked the actual processing guidelines? I worked on the Australian Census in 2016 and that was the rule - anything that wasn't on a specific list was to be recorded as "none". Ireland In a May 2012 review of the 2011 census, the Dáil Public Accounts Committee asked the Central Statistics Office about the reliability of self-reported answers, instancing people listing Jedi as their religion. The response was "We could probably tell you the number of people who have declared themselves as such, but we don't publish it". The 2016 census results list all religions receiving more than 30 responses, including 2,050 (0.085%) under "Jedi Knight". As of the 2022 census, there are 1,800 Jedi knights, a decrease of 250 since the 2016 census results.[28] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedi_census_phenomenon

7th June 2023, 03:19 AM	#167
Gulliver Foyle Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Cork baaaiii Posts: 2,404	Originally Posted by catsmate Census data has been released, https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2...n-latest-data/ Catholicism is down, especially in Dublin, Islam, Orthodox and Hinduism are up. Nearly as many Sikhs as Jews, more Satanists than Scientologists, Quakers and Hare Krishnas. But more Jedi Knights than the last four combined. 'No Religion' is up 67%. Given the 700,000 that explicitly state no religion and the further 300,000 plus that didn't answer the question, the irreligious over here are likely north of 20% just on census numbers alone. And the numbers for catholics is probably an overestimate, given that it's significantly higher than consistent polling data. But that can be attributed to factors such as parents marking their adult children as catholic and the number of people who will mark themselves catholic since they were baptised, even though they openly don't believe
	__________________ Ceterum autem censeo Factio Republicanus esse delendam

7th June 2023, 08:40 AM	#168
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 66,989	Originally Posted by catsmate Yes. Australia is not Ireland. I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland.
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

7th June 2023, 08:42 AM	#169
Ziggurat Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 54,720	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland. It's not the accent you need to worry about. It's the fact that they'd be drunken criminals. Oh, wait, they're both already like that.
	__________________ "As long as it is admitted that the law may be diverted from its true purpose -- that it may violate property instead of protecting it -- then everyone will want to participate in making the law, either to protect himself against plunder or to use it for plunder. Political questions will always be prejudicial, dominant, and all-absorbing. There will be fighting at the door of the Legislative Palace, and the struggle within will be no less furious." - Bastiat, The Law

7th June 2023, 07:00 PM	#170
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland. Interestingly, the Australian accent developed largely due to the mixing of Irish, Scottish and Welsh, since they were among the prominent demographics of Europeans to arrive here.
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

8th June 2023, 05:47 AM	#171
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,319	Originally Posted by Gulliver Foyle Given the 700,000 that explicitly state no religion and the further 300,000 plus that didn't answer the question, the irreligious over here are likely north of 20% just on census numbers alone. And the numbers for catholics is probably an overestimate, given that it's significantly higher than consistent polling data. But that can be attributed to factors such as parents marking their adult children as catholic and the number of people who will mark themselves catholic since they were baptised, even though they openly don't believe True. On a related note a colleague of mine is hoping to have the Sith recognised in '27. Originally Posted by TragicMonkey I can only imagine the accent that would result from a fusion of Australia and Ireland. Plenty of examples out there......
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.

9th June 2023, 05:21 AM	#172
Gulliver Foyle Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Cork baaaiii Posts: 2,404	In local news former dual GAA Cork star Teddy McCarthy, the only man to win football and hurling All-Irelands in the one year died earlier in the week. I knew the funeral would be big, but I didn't realise it would be absolutely massive until I sat talking with two Inspectors this morning.
	__________________ Ceterum autem censeo Factio Republicanus esse delendam

19th July 2023, 12:47 AM	#173
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Not that local, but this was a hell of a crash: Multiple people in hospital after Queensland crash involving truck carrying US Abrams tank Quote: Emergency crews arrive to find three vehicles on fire and four others badly damaged on Bruce Highway near Rockhampton Six people are in hospital after a fiery multi-vehicle crash involving a truck that was carrying an army tank in central Queensland. Police set up a large exclusion zone after the collision on the Bruce Highway near Rockhampton on Wednesday morning. Emergency crews arrived to find three vehicles on fire and four others badly damaged, police said. The vehicles included a B-double truck, a semi-trailer carrying a military tank, a flatbed truck carrying two caravans, three cars, and a 4WD towing a caravan.
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

19th July 2023, 06:05 PM	#174
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Followup: Bruce Highway partially reopens after multi-vehicle crash involving US tank Quote: One lane has reopened on the Bruce Highway this morning as investigators piece together the chain of events that led to a fiery multi-vehicle crash involving a US military tank in central Queensland. The seven-vehicle crash happened near Bajool, south of Rockhampton, yesterday morning. It involved multiple caravans, a B-double truck and a semi-trailer carrying a US army tank en route to a military exercise. Three of the vehicles were on fire when police arrived. Six people were taken to hospital. Two remain in stable conditions and others have been discharged. ... Inspector Carroll said police were still piecing together the cause of the crash but initial investigations suggest a passenger vehicle failed to stop for an escort vehicle accompanying the semi-trailer carrying the tank, causing a domino effect. The tank was being transported from Gladstone port to the Shoalwater Bay training area for Exercise Talisman Sabre, a biennial training event involving Australian and US troops. "That's our initial understanding … our crash investigators are still piecing it together," Inspector Carroll said. "We were absolutely flabbergasted that no-one was killed out of that crash. "[That] was the most pleasing thing, because it was an absolute mess."
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

19th July 2023, 06:41 PM	#175
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24,049	This I could have posted in a number of sub-fora but seems to fit nicely here: Investor who lost $740K to Ontario's Crypto King among 5 men charged with kidnapping him Quote: A Toronto investor who lost thousands to Ontario's self-proclaimed Crypto King is one of five men facing charges connected to the alleged kidnapping, forcible confinement and assault of Aiden Pleterski last December, CBC Toronto has learned. CBC Toronto previously reported details of Pleterski's alleged kidnapping based on a report from ongoing bankruptcy proceedings against the 24-year-old. In the bankruptcy, investors have been working for nearly a year to try and track down more than $40 million given to Pleterski to invest in crypto currency and foreign exchange. Akil Heywood has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping Pleterski and for threatening the administrator overseeing the bankruptcy in an attempt to get $2 million in crypto currency, according to court records. If I had invested in crypto and lost big, I would want my money back, too. But I did not and prefer to let the police and courts do their work rather than engage in vigilantism.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

19th July 2023, 09:44 PM	#176
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 35,364	Originally Posted by Gord_in_Toronto This I could have posted in a number of sub-fora but seems to fit nicely here: Investor who lost $740K to Ontario's Crypto King among 5 men charged with kidnapping him If I had invested in crypto and lost big, I would want my money back, too. But I did not and prefer to let the police and courts do their work rather than engage in vigilantism. Do I read that right, and after all that the kidnapper wanted his two million in cryptocurrency? Slow learner!
	__________________ Like many humorless and indignant people, he is hard on everybody but himself, and does not perceive it when he fails his own ideal (Molière) A pedant is a man who studies a vacuum through instruments that allow him to draw cross-sections of the details (John Ciardi) Last edited by bruto; 19th July 2023 at 09:46 PM.

19th July 2023, 11:41 PM	#177
Andy_Ross Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 45,318	Hartlepool mum's mobile phone fury after being 'left with no service for SIX days' on O2 network Quote: A Hartlepool resident says she has endured six days of no mobile phone service after issues with the O2 network. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was told the issue was down to a nearby phone mast that wasn't working, leaving her to rely solely on Wi-Fi networks. She blasted the situation as an "absolute joke" Quote: "I rang up to complain and asked for a refund because why should I be paying for this service that I am not receiving? I wonder if anyone else is receiving this issue. They have knocked £6 off my next bill, it is the least they could do." https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/t...paign=sharebar
	__________________ Formerly known as Captain Swoop

20th July 2023, 02:31 AM	#178
wobs Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Hull Posts: 3,101	Too many ~~Poles~~ poles in Hull: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news...y-hull-8614325
	__________________ "To vowels. They stop consonants sticking together like boiled sweets in a paper bag."

20th July 2023, 06:27 AM	#179
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24,049	Originally Posted by bruto Do I read that right, and after all that the kidnapper wanted his two million in cryptocurrency? Slow learner! I'm not sure he learned that. But he may learn a few other things.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

20th July 2023, 08:26 AM	#180
catsmate No longer the 1 Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 29,319	Our resident transphobic evangelical bigot has lost in court again, faces massive costs bill. https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/c...-41185621.html
	__________________ As human right is always something given, it always in reality reduces to the right which men give, "concede," to each other. If the right to existence is conceded to new-born children, then they have the right; if it is not conceded to them, as was the case among the Spartans and ancient Romans, then they do not have it. For only society can give or concede it to them; they themselves cannot take it, or give it to themselves.

20th July 2023, 08:35 AM	#181
PitPat Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 5,966	Tonight at 11, How Can Breathing Kill You?

20th July 2023, 10:38 AM	#182
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24,049	As a law abiding citizen, I approve this message! Organized crime not welcome in city: Mayor (Just don't send them to my town.)
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

20th July 2023, 12:48 PM	#183
Andy_Ross Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 45,318	Newton Aycliffe's Westmorland Way ‘worst for potholes' Quote: A County Durham street that was branded the worst in the North East for potholes will be getting a new lease of life later this year. Pictures from the roads that were taken by The Northern Echo show huge dips in the road with patches of tarmac covering some of the bigger potholes. However, Durham County Council has now said that the road will be getting fixing in this financial year. https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...orst-potholes/
	__________________ Formerly known as Captain Swoop

20th July 2023, 03:54 PM	#184
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 43,206	Originally Posted by Andy_Ross Newton Aycliffe's Westmorland Way ‘worst for potholes' https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ne...orst-potholes/ Our local community groups are awash with people complaining about potholes. It occured to me that roads pretty much decay at the same rate wherever you go. I'd like to know if people complain everywhere else, not just here and in the NE UK.

20th July 2023, 05:03 PM	#185
bruto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Way way north of Diddy Wah Diddy Posts: 35,364	Today's paper had a picture of Pete Buttigieg visiting a site of extreme flood damage. Going to a concert up that way we had booked a night at this hotel for next week. I think plans have changed.... hotel.png
	__________________ Like many humorless and indignant people, he is hard on everybody but himself, and does not perceive it when he fails his own ideal (Molière) A pedant is a man who studies a vacuum through instruments that allow him to draw cross-sections of the details (John Ciardi)

20th July 2023, 06:11 PM	#186
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 66,989	Originally Posted by Orphia Nay Our local community groups are awash with people complaining about potholes. It occured to me that roads pretty much decay at the same rate wherever you go. I don't think they do-- it depends on the exact material the road is constructed from, the climate conditions, and the volume and nature of the traffic. I live in a city that is notoriously cheap with infrastructure so the major roads that get lots of traffic --particularly big trucks-- are in terrible shape. Cold winters and hot summers don't help. Then when repairs are made, they're done with the cheapest possible materials...which don't last very long at all. We're spending far more on repeated repairs than it would cost to do it right the first time. I think this is a real-world example of Sam Vimes's "Boots Theory of Economics": we spend more on road repairs than a richer city would but we still have crappy streets!
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

20th July 2023, 06:19 PM	#187
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Originally Posted by Orphia Nay Our local community groups are awash with people complaining about potholes. It occured to me that roads pretty much decay at the same rate wherever you go. I'd like to know if people complain everywhere else, not just here and in the NE UK. After three years of La Niña rain, we had potholes out the wazoo. It was a running joke on the local Facebook community group.
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

20th July 2023, 06:24 PM	#188
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 43,206	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey I don't think they do-- it depends on the exact material the road is constructed from, the climate conditions, and the volume and nature of the traffic. I live in a city that is notoriously cheap with infrastructure so the major roads that get lots of traffic --particularly big trucks-- are in terrible shape. Cold winters and hot summers don't help. Then when repairs are made, they're done with the cheapest possible materials...which don't last very long at all. We're spending far more on repeated repairs than it would cost to do it right the first time. I think this is a real-world example of Sam Vimes's "Boots Theory of Economics": we spend more on road repairs than a richer city would but we still have crappy streets! Sure. But do locals complain about it?

20th July 2023, 06:27 PM	#189
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 66,989	Originally Posted by Orphia Nay Sure. But do locals complain about it? Yeah, but it gets a bit overshadowed by all the shootings.
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

20th July 2023, 06:35 PM	#190
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 43,206	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey Yeah, but it gets a bit overshadowed by all the shootings. Holy ****.

20th July 2023, 06:48 PM	#191
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 66,989	Originally Posted by Orphia Nay Holy ****. Well, it's a city. These are mostly carjackings and robberies, not splashy mass shootings that make headlines all over.
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

20th July 2023, 07:41 PM	#192
Orphia Nay Penguilicious Spodmaster. Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ponylandistan Presidential Palace (above the Spods' stables). Posts: 43,206	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey Well, it's a city. These are mostly carjackings and robberies, not splashy mass shootings that make headlines all over. Still scary. Meanwhile, in Berlin, a lion has been sighted on the loose.

20th July 2023, 08:02 PM	#193
arthwollipot Observer of Phenomena Pronouns: he/him Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Ngunnawal Country Posts: 84,444	Originally Posted by Orphia Nay Still scary. Meanwhile, in Berlin, a lion has been sighted on the loose. And in California, a tricksy otter has been stealing surfboards.
	__________________ A million people can call the mountains a fiction Yet it need not trouble you as you stand atop them https://xkcd.com/154/

20th July 2023, 08:17 PM	#194
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 66,989	Originally Posted by arthwollipot And in California, a tricksy otter has been stealing surfboards. And a national park has reported thefts of pic-a-nic baskets! The culprit is thought to be either a bear, or a vampire. Fifty tons of garlic and crucifixes are being rushed to the site.
	__________________ You added nothing to that conversation, Barbara.

20th July 2023, 08:20 PM	#195
novaphile Quester of Doglets Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sunny South Australia Posts: 5,607	Originally Posted by TragicMonkey And a national park has reported thefts of pic-a-nic baskets! The culprit is thought to be either a bear, or a vampire. Fifty tons of garlic and crucifixes are being rushed to the site. Understandable. I've heard the stories of those pic-a-nic basket thefts, and clearly whotever is doing them, is smarter than the average bear.
	__________________ We would be better, and braver, to engage in enquiry, rather than indulge in the idle fancy, that we already know -- Plato.